Amid all the media penchant for Black Friday news today, it isn’t hard to understand how any other news can essentially fly under the radar … er … shopping cart. Take this nugget, for instance: an audit of a pro-health reform advocacy group^[1] shows that the group’s recent ad says reform legislation would stop premiums from increasing, and also states that Medicare’s solvency would be enhanced. Additionally, the ad says that health overhaul legislation would stop premiums from increasing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ5k8yIo48A[/youtube]

Obviously,  a review of the recently passed House bill and the Senate versions do not contain such a provision. How could premiums not increase over time with inflation? As far as the Medicare entitlement issue is concerned, recent decisions by the legislature not to address pending cuts in provider reimbursements will probably have a profound effect on participation over the next decade by provider groups, threatening patient access. Finally, Medicare Advantage plans (even with Republicans’ attempts at preserving their fee negotiation schedules to providers and premiums charged to beneficiaries) will no doubt see some change to their formulas in ways which will affect bottom lines — after all, any meaningful reform will have to be financed.

1. Americans United for Change & AFSCME [↩]

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